Pressure-retaining valve



NOV- 189 E. L. CLARK PRESSURE RETAINING VALVE 0 5 4 1 I 1 4 2 2 a w wEZJILL Filed July 14, 1922 Patented Nov. 18, 1924.

UNITED STATES EDDY L. CLARK, OF WEST PITTSTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

PRESSURE-RETAINING VALVE.

Application filed July 14, 1922. Serial No. 574,882.

7' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. EDDY L. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, andresident of West Pittston, in the county of Luzerne and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPressure-Retaining Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pressure retaining valves, and particularlyvalves of the kind used in connection with the air-brake systems ofrailroad cars.

The object of the invention is to provide a pressure retaining valve ofsimple, durable and efficient construction having a valve element thatcan be readily mounted within the valve case and adjusted to resist anyrequired pressure from the brake cylinder; such a valve that willeffectually maintain its seat under the varying conditions of service,and such a valve wherein the elements are readily removable andreplaceable as occasion may require.

\Vith these. and other objects in view my invention comprises variousnovel features of construction and combinations of parts which will behereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical section of a valve deiiceembodying the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the device on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the valve proper removed from the casing.

Fig. 4 is a plan of the device.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a body having a central port 11provided intermediate its ends with a lateral exhaust port 12. The lowerend of this body is adapted to be coupled, as usual, to the train pipeextending from the brake cylinder. Detachably fitted to the upper end ofthe body is a valve case 13 such end constituting the bottom of thevalve chamber and having a suitably-disposed vent port 1 1. Rotatablymounted within the body is a transverse cock key 15 manually operable toestablish communication between the train-pipe and the vented chamber ofthe valve case, as desired. \Vithin this chamber is mounted a valveelement which normally closes communication between the said chamber andthe port 11, but is adapted to be automatically raised to open positionby a predetermined pressure in the brake cylinder.

According to the preferred form of my invention, the valve elementcomprises an inverted cup-shaped shell 16 having at its upper end acentrally perforated head 17 and having at its mouth an internalthreaded flange 18. Screwed firmly into this flange is a ball 19 ofelastic substance, such, for example, as rubber, the lower portion ofthe ball projecting outwardly of the shell. Loosely confined within theshell is a hemispherical body 20 of rubber or other resilient material.the convex surface of which rests on.the ball 19. Bearing on the upperflat surface of the body 20 isthefoot 21 of a vertical stem 22 which isslidably fitted and guided in the central perforation of the head 17. j

The valve element just described is positioned within the valve case sothat the ball 19 rests on the valve seat at the bottom of the chamber,the stem 22 being entered in a central perforation 23 in the top of thecase. This perforation is internally threaded to receive a set-screw 21, which, bearing upon the top of the stem, can be vertically adjustedfrom the exterior of the device to exert more or less pressure, asdesired, on the stem, and thus, through the elastic action of the body20 on the ball 19. effect a predetermined pressure of the latter on itsseat.

As a simple and efiicient means to adjust the set-screw and secure it inany predetermined position of adjustment, I provide the outer projectingend of the screw with a radially extending handle arm 25 having suitablelocking means adapted to engage the valve case at various points inaccordance with the position of the arm. In the present instance, adepending pin 26 is slidably fitted in an orifice in the arm so as tooverhang the top of the valve case. The lower end of the pin is pointed,as at 27, and is also provided with a shoulder. as at 28, a spring 29being interposed between the shoulder and the arm so as to press the pinyieldingly down against the top of the case, and such top being providedwith a circular series of spaced sockets 30 with any predetermined oneof which the pin point may be temporarily engaged by the act of properlyturning the arm 25. The top of the case is preferably indexed orgraduated in proximity to the sockets, as shown, so that the amount ofpressure eflected by the rotation of the screw will be indicated. Anyother suitable means for turning and locking the set-screw may beemployed.

When the valve element is positioned within the case the ball 19 isfirmly held upon the seat or mouth of the port 11 under varyingconditions of service; that is, the ball is effectually seated not onlywhen the flow of air to the valve chamber is turned off but when thevalve subjected to severe vibrations, or is set at various angles. lVhenthe active surface of the ball 19 becomes worn, the ball can beunscrewed from the shell and then reinserted in a reverse positiontlierein so as to present a new bearing surface to the seat. The partsof the valve element can be readily removed or reassembled for repairsor replacement.

It is to be understood that I do not limit my invention to the detailsof construction herein disclosed, as the parts may be modified withinthe principle of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. The combination with avalve case hav ing a port, of a valveelement comprising a shell movable within and longitudinally of thecase, an elastic body fixed to and projecting from one end of said shellso to be movable therewith, the projecting portion of the body beingadapted to be seated on the port, and means freely movable through theopposite end of the shell for applying predetermined pressure upon theinner portion of said body, said means including a member operable fromthe exterior oft-he valve case.

2. The combination with a valve case having a port, of a valve elementcomprising a shell movable within and longitudinally of the case, aspherical elastic body fixed to and projecting from one end of saidshell so as to be movable therewith, the projecting portion of the bodybeing adapted to be seated on the port, and means freely movable throughthe opposite end of the shell for applying predetermined pressure uponthe inner portion of the body, said means including a member operablefrom the exterior of the valve case.

3. The combination with a valve case having a port, of a valve elementcomprising a shell, an elastic body supported by and projecting from oneend of said shell, the projecting portion of the body being adapted tobe seated on the port, and means for ap plying predetermined pressureupon the inner portion of said body, said means including a stem axiallymovable within the shell, and a set-screw fitted to the case and bearingupon the stem.

l. The combination with a valve case having a port, of a valve elementcomprising a shell, an elastic body supported by and projecting from oneend of said shell, the projecting portion of the body being adapted tobe seated on the port, and means for applying predetermined pressureupon the inner portion of said body, said means including a stem axiallymovable within the shell, a set-screw fitted to the case and bearingupon the stem, a handle on said screw, and devices to retain said handlein various positions of rotary adjustment.

5. The combination with a valve case having a port, of a valve elementcomprising a shell movable within and longitudinally of the case, anelastic body fixed to and pro jecting from one end of said shell and.adapted to be seated on the port, a yielding pressure member containedwithin said shell and bearing upon the said. body, and means freelymovable through the opposite end of the shell and operable from theexterior of the casing to adjust the force of the pressure member onsaid body.

6. The combination with a valve case having a port, of a valve elementcomprising a shell movable within and. longitudinally ofthe case, a ballfixed to and projecting from one end of said shell and adapted to beseated on the port, a body of resilient material contained within saidshell and bear ing upon the ball, and means freely movable through theopposite end of the shell and operable from the exterior of the casingto adj net the force of the said body on the ball.

7. The combination with a valve case having a port at one end thereofand a threaded perforation at the opposite end of a valve elementcomprising a shell having a guide perforation at one end, an elasticbody project ing from the opposite end of said shell and adapted to beseated on said port, a yielding pressure member contained within saidshell and bearing upon said ball, a stem slidably fitted in theperforation of the shell, and a set-screw fitted in the perforation ofthe valve case and. bearing upon the said stem.

8. The combination with a valve case having a port at one end thereofand a threaded perforation at the opposite end, of a valve elementcomprising a shell hav ing' a guide perforation at one end, and aninternally threaded mouth portion at the opposite end, an elastic ballscrewed into said mouth portion and adapted to be seated on said port, ayielding pressure member contained within said shell and bearing uponsaid ball, av stem slidably fitted in the perforation of the shell, anda set-screw fitted in the perforation of the valve case and bearing uponthe said stem.

9. The combination with a valve case having a port, of a valve elementcomprising a shell, an elastic body projecting from said shell andadapted to be seated on the port, a yielding pressure member containedwithin said shell and bearing upon the said body, means operable fromthe exterior of the casing to adjust the force of the pressure member onsaid body, said means including a set-screw fitted to the case, and ahandle on said screw.

10. The combination with a valve case having a port, of a valve elementcomprising a shell, an elastic body projecting from said shell andadapted to be seated on the port, a yielding pressure member containedwithin said shell and bearing upon the said body, means operable fromthe exterior of the casing to adjust the force of the pressure member onsaid body, said means including a set-screw fitted to the case, a handleon said screw, and devices to retain said handle in various positions ofrotary adjustment.

11. A pressure retaining valve element comprising a shell having aninternally threaded mouth portion at one end, and a ball detachablyscrewed into said mouth portion.

12. A pressure retaining valve element (omprising a shell having a guideperforation at one end and an open mouth portion at the opposite end, aball secured within said mouth portion, a pressure member confinedwithin the shell and bearing upon the said ball, and a stem fitted tothe perfo '1 tion of the shell and bearing on the pressure member.

13. A pressure retaining valve member comprising a shell having a guideperforation at one end and an internally threaded mouth portion at theopposite end, a ball detachably screwed into said mouth portion, ayielding pressure member confined within the shell and bearing upon thesaid ball, and a stem fitted to the perforation of the shell and bearingon the pressure member.

14. The combination with a valve case having a port at one end thereofand a threaded perforation at the opposite end, of a valve elementcomprising a shell having a guide perforation at one end, and a mouthportion at the opposite end, an elastic ball supported in said mouthportion and adapted to be seated on said port, a yielding pressuremember contained within said shell and bearing upon said ball, a stemslidably fitted in the perforation of the shell, a set-screw fitted inthe perforation of the valve case and bearing upon said stem, a handleon said screw, and means to retain said handle in various positions ofrotary adjustment.

15. The combination with a valve case having a port at one end thereof,of a valve element including an elastic member having a convex sealingsurface adapted to be seated directly over the port, means remote fromthe port and extending through the opposite end of the case for exertingpressure upon the valve element against the inherent elasticity of saidmember, a rotary member for actuating said pressure member, andspring-controlled locking means for temporarily retaining said rotarymember in various positions of rotary adjustment.

Signed at Pittston, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania,this 12th day of July, A. D. 1922.

EDDY L. CLARK.

